Legal Definitions - proclamation of recusants

Definition: The Proclamation of Recusants was a historical proclamation that allowed authorities to convict individuals who willfully avoided attending church by not appearing at the assizes.

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, the Proclamation of Recusants was used to target Catholics who refused to attend Anglican services. Those who were convicted could face fines, imprisonment, or even execution.

Another example of the Proclamation of Recusants being used was during the reign of King James I, when it was used to target Puritans who refused to conform to the Church of England.

These examples illustrate how the Proclamation of Recusants was used to enforce religious conformity and punish those who refused to attend the official state church.